News: University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Institute

The University of Sheffield has announced the creation of an Advanced Manufacturing Institute (AMI), in response to the continued success around the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre with Boeing (AMRC) in Rotherham.

Embracing the AMRC, Nuclear AMRC, Composite Centre and Knowledge Transfer Centres, all based on the Advanced Manufacturing Park, the AMI is a self standing centre for research, knowledge exchange and location for teaching and learning within the academic structure of the University.

The AMRC is a £100m partnership that has successfully bridged the gap between academia, industry and government.

With more than 40 partner organisations, comprising world leaders in the aerospace supply chain, key government offices and international academic institutions, The AMRC identifies, researches and solves advanced manufacturing problems. It already employs around 160 researchers, engineers and support staff.

The centre continues to develop and has secured significant investment. Building work has begun on a Knowledge Transfer Centre (KTC) and construction of the new Composite Centre, an extension to the existing Factory of the Future building, will begin soon. The £25m Nuclear AMRC on the site is also nearing completion.

The AMRC and the Nuclear AMRC are part of the consortium running The High Value Manufacturing Technology and Innovation Centre (TIC) which will help to equip UK industry with the ability to capitalise on the future global market opportunities by drawing on leading edge research.

The AMI will be structured, uniquely for the University, around a Board, comprising senior internal officers of the University and some external appointees, who will be able to support the internal AMI team.

Professor Keith Ridgway OBE is named as Executive Dean and Director of the AMI. Professor Ridgway joined the University of Sheffield as a lecturer in 1988 and became Professor of Design and Manufacture in 1997. In 2001, working with local businessman Adrian Allen, he launched the AMRC. The AMRC has continued to go from strength to strength since its creation and in 2005 Professor Ridgway was awarded the OBE. In 2006 he became a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering.

A small number of additional senior appointments to the AMI will be made in the coming months, in order to further support and strengthen the strategic decision-making and operational platform of the AMI.

AMRC website

Images: amrc.co.uk